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A look at Jaguar future products: F-Type pays heed to Jaguar's history

August 12, 2012

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Jaguar will launch the all-new F-Type roadster next year as a halo car for the English brand.

The F-Type takes styling cues from Jaguar's iconic E-Type from the 1960s and is expected to compete with cars such as the Porsche 911, said Andy Goss, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover North America.

"We have to make sure the F-Type has an emotional pull similar to the Porsche 911," Goss said. "We have not had that."

U.S. sales of the F-Type will be fewer than 10,000 units a year, he said.

After years of offering only fuel-thirsty V8 engines, Jaguar will offer smaller engines this fall to boost sales in a fuel economy-conscious market. It will offer four- and six-cylinder engines in two of its three car lines. Its major competitors have already downsized their engines.

A 2.0-liter, 240-hp turbocharged in-line four-cylinder engine from the new Range Rover Evoque SUV will be available on the XF sedan--the four-door that competes with the BMW 5 series, Cadillac CTS and Mercedes-Benz E350. A supercharged 3.0-liter V6 in two variants--340 hp and 380 hp--will be offered on the XF and the larger XJ sedan. The engine is based on the 5.0-liter V8, currently the only powerplant that Jaguar offers on its U.S. cars.

Both engines will be available this fall.

Work also is under way on a compact sedan, but that car is at least two years away from production, Goss said.

The Jaguar F-Type convertible goes on sale in 2013. It debuts at the Paris motor show.

F-Type: Jaguar's smallest two-seat sports car in almost 40 years goes on sale next year. It will compete with Porsche's 911. The roadster will get a supercharged 380-hp V6 and the 5.0-liter V8 that powers the rest of the passenger car range.

Compact sedan: Jaguar won't fill the biggest gap in its product line until 2015 when a new sub-$40,000 sedan is expected. Jaguar could resurrect the name X-Type from the sedan that was based on the Ford Mondeo and discontinued after the 2008 model year.

Jaguar is expected to use aluminum extensively for the sedan body. Coupe and station wagon likely could follow in 2016.

XJ: The large sedan and its long-wheelbase XJL derivative will be redesigned in 2017. There are reports that a coupe model to compete with the Mercedes-Benz CLS is being considered.

XF: The sedan, which competes with the BMW 5 series, will be redesigned in 2014 or 2015 and will switch to an aluminum body. A coupe version is expected in 2015 or 2016.

XK: A redesign of Jaguar's oldest model is expected in 2014; the coupe and convertible will be replaced.

Crossover: To compete with the Audi Q5, Jaguar plans to base a crossover on an all-wheel-drive platform and the new aluminum architecture. It is expected in 2015 or 2016.

C-X75: Jaguar plans a production version of the hybrid supercar concept. Production begins in 2013 and ends in 2015, with only 250 cars to be built. The C-X75 will be priced between $1.2 million and $1.5 million. The car will have plug-in electric motors on the front and rear axles.

Jaguar has not disclosed other powertrain details for the car, which is being developed with the Williams Formula One racing team and will use a lightweight carbon-fiber chassis. The car is expected to have a top speed of more than 200 mph and accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than 3 seconds.